BIRDS & BLOOMS Newsletter

Roll Out the Welcome Mat

TO HELP MAKE songbirds feel welcome in her backyard, Dodie A. of Santa Ynez, California provides ample protection from predators, such as hawks and stray cats.

To prevent “swooping” attacks from above, she hangs feeders from an arbor. And to protect the birds using an old birdbath she turned into a tray feeder, Dodie placed a tomato cage upside down in the birdbath. It keeps the hawks from diving and the cats from pouncing.

She’s also encircled her feeders with a simple 3-foot-high wire fence that’s at least 2 feet away from the feeder on all sides. This keeps cats from jumping onto the feeder or pouncing on the ground-feeding birds.

These methods have protected her feathered friends without harming their predators in the process!

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Great Use for Grease

GOT GREASE? Kim B. of Carlton, Minnesota has found an easy way to delight birds and dispose of kitchen grease. After frying bacon, pork chops and other meat products, carefully pour the leftover grease into a bowl lined with waxed paper. Stir in some birdseed and freeze.

Once it’s solid, simply peel off the waxed paper and slide the special snack into a suet feeder. It’s a simple and cheap way to offer a little variety in your backyard buffet.

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Oh, Christmas Tree!

BRING the outdoors in with these tree-trimming ideas. The holidays can really bring out creativity when it comes to Christmas tree decorations. Click below to see how some people brought the best of their backyards into their living rooms!

View the photos here.

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Get More Memories

NOW YOU CAN GET more of your favorite old-time memories in a high-tech way with the FREE Reminisce E-mail Newsletter! Sent right to your in-box every month, the Reminisce newsletter is filled with stories and photos like those you enjoy in each magazine issue, plus exciting bonus features.

You’ll find advance notice of story and photo needs, sneak previews of upcoming magazine issues, special offers on Reminisce books, videos, music and more…all in an easy-to-read email format. Click here to sign up today!

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Winter’s a Hoot

“EACH DECEMBER, when the dark nights of winter feel so long, a great horned owl perches high in the bare branches of our trees and begins its signature hooting,” shares Sharon B. of Eden Praire, Minnesota.

One January day, her son, Thomas, was dismissed from school early because of a snowstorm. He and his friend Andy spotted the owl perched in a tree while they took a snack break.

When the boys went back to playing, Sharon got out her binoculars and continued watching, “This fascinating creature turned toward the house, and I could see its beautiful face and white bib. Spectacular!

“It began to hoot at dusk, and I could see it puff up and bend forward as it let out its distinctive call.”

Soon an owl responded from the west and another responded from the other direction. She couldn’t believe there were three great horned owls in her neighborhood.

“To my amazement, a second owl flew into my field of view and a courtship ritual occurred,” adds Sharon. “The next day, Thomas and I awaited the owl’s arrival. Like clockwork, it returned at 4:30 p.m., perching high in our burr oak. Again, it began hooting and the second owl joined it on the perch. This went on for five more evenings.”

While they haven’t seen any owls since then, Sharon and her family eagerly scan their treetops in anticipation of the owls’ return each year.

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Save $150 Per Person on 2007 vacations

Make 2007 a year to remember!

Get ready for the new year by planning your 2007 vacation with us! You can explore spectacular scenery and enjoy exclusive excursions you won’t find anywhere else.

Best of all, when you book a 2007 tour by January 5, 2007, you’ll save $150.00 Per Person on your reservation!

Apply this savings toward any of our 2007 U.S., Canadian and International tours over $1,000. Just enter code BL31 to claim your savings.

Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer ends January 5.

Click here to see all our 2007 destinations

Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications

1-800/344-6918
5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429

Deck the Deck

EVERY CHRISTMAS, Don E. of Allenford, Ontario made gingerbread men or houses with his grandsons, Brady, Tyler and Cory. One year, they decided to work on a birding project as well.

They attached evergreen boughs to the deck railing just outside the kitchen window, where they have three feeders. Then they made strings of cranberries, popcorn and peanuts in shells. They also hung apples, tangerines, string cheese and peanut-butter-filled pinecones that were rolled in birdseed.

“We were rewarded with dozens of birds at our smorgasbord—finches, chickadees, blue jays, nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos and downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers,” says Don. “There were also several doves that ate the seed we spread on the deck.”

It was a fun way to introduce a younger generation to the joys of backyard birding. Plus, they’ve started a new tradition!

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Bloom in the New Year

EACH month of the 2007 Birds & Blooms Calendar showcases nature’s colorful palette with dozens of winged wonders and brilliant flowers shown up close in vivid, full-color photography. Buy it today from Country Store.

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2007 Cardinal Calendar Visit The Country Store For More Information SEARCH one of our web sites: GREAT GIFT IDEA! Give the gift of “backyard beauty” all year long with Birds & Blooms—ONLY $10. New gifts only. Click here for details	Dear $$firstname$$, Greetings from Birds & Blooms magazine! Whether you’re searching for partridges in a pear tree or decking your halls with boughs of holly, you can always count on Birds & Blooms to bring a festive air to the season. P.S. The holidays will be here before you know it! This year, give a gift that any outdoor enthusiast will enjoy—a subscription to Birds & Blooms. Order now for just $10 each—our lowest gift price of the season! READ ON TO DISCOVER... Roll Out the Welcome Mat Great Use for Grease Oh, Christmas Tree! Get More Memories Winter’s a Hoot Deck the Deck Bloom in the New Year Roll Out the Welcome Mat TO HELP MAKE songbirds feel welcome in her backyard, Dodie A. of Santa Ynez, California provides ample protection from predators, such as hawks and stray cats. To prevent “swooping” attacks from above, she hangs feeders from an arbor. And to protect the birds using an old birdbath she turned into a tray feeder, Dodie placed a tomato cage upside down in the birdbath. It keeps the hawks from diving and the cats from pouncing. She’s also encircled her feeders with a simple 3-foot-high wire fence that’s at least 2 feet away from the feeder on all sides. This keeps cats from jumping onto the feeder or pouncing on the ground-feeding birds. These methods have protected her feathered friends without harming their predators in the process! top Great Use for Grease GOT GREASE? Kim B. of Carlton, Minnesota has found an easy way to delight birds and dispose of kitchen grease. After frying bacon, pork chops and other meat products, carefully pour the leftover grease into a bowl lined with waxed paper. Stir in some birdseed and freeze. Once it’s solid, simply peel off the waxed paper and slide the special snack into a suet feeder. It’s a simple and cheap way to offer a little variety in your backyard buffet. top Oh, Christmas Tree! BRING the outdoors in with these tree-trimming ideas. The holidays can really bring out creativity when it comes to Christmas tree decorations. Click below to see how some people brought the best of their backyards into their living rooms! View the photos here. top Get More Memories NOW YOU CAN GET more of your favorite old-time memories in a high-tech way with the FREE Reminisce E-mail Newsletter! Sent right to your in-box every month, the Reminisce newsletter is filled with stories and photos like those you enjoy in each magazine issue, plus exciting bonus features. You’ll find advance notice of story and photo needs, sneak previews of upcoming magazine issues, special offers on Reminisce books, videos, music and more…all in an easy-to-read email format. Click here to sign up today! top Winter’s a Hoot “EACH DECEMBER, when the dark nights of winter feel so long, a great horned owl perches high in the bare branches of our trees and begins its signature hooting,” shares Sharon B. of Eden Praire, Minnesota. One January day, her son, Thomas, was dismissed from school early because of a snowstorm. He and his friend Andy spotted the owl perched in a tree while they took a snack break. When the boys went back to playing, Sharon got out her binoculars and continued watching, “This fascinating creature turned toward the house, and I could see its beautiful face and white bib. Spectacular! “It began to hoot at dusk, and I could see it puff up and bend forward as it let out its distinctive call.” Soon an owl responded from the west and another responded from the other direction. She couldn’t believe there were three great horned owls in her neighborhood. “To my amazement, a second owl flew into my field of view and a courtship ritual occurred,” adds Sharon. “The next day, Thomas and I awaited the owl’s arrival. Like clockwork, it returned at 4:30 p.m., perching high in our burr oak. Again, it began hooting and the second owl joined it on the perch. This went on for five more evenings.” While they haven’t seen any owls since then, Sharon and her family eagerly scan their treetops in anticipation of the owls’ return each year. top Save $150 Per Person on 2007 vacations Make 2007 a year to remember! Get ready for the new year by planning your 2007 vacation with us! You can explore spectacular scenery and enjoy exclusive excursions you won’t find anywhere else. Best of all, when you book a 2007 tour by January 5, 2007, you’ll save $150.00 Per Person on your reservation! Apply this savings toward any of our 2007 U.S., Canadian and International tours over $1,000. Just enter code BL31 to claim your savings. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer ends January 5. Click here to see all our 2007 destinations Exclusive Tour Operator of Reiman Publications 1-800/344-6918 5939 Country Lane, Greendale WI 53129-1429 Deck the Deck EVERY CHRISTMAS, Don E. of Allenford, Ontario made gingerbread men or houses with his grandsons, Brady, Tyler and Cory. One year, they decided to work on a birding project as well. They attached evergreen boughs to the deck railing just outside the kitchen window, where they have three feeders. Then they made strings of cranberries, popcorn and peanuts in shells. They also hung apples, tangerines, string cheese and peanut-butter-filled pinecones that were rolled in birdseed. “We were rewarded with dozens of birds at our smorgasbord—finches, chickadees, blue jays, nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos and downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers,” says Don. “There were also several doves that ate the seed we spread on the deck.” It was a fun way to introduce a younger generation to the joys of backyard birding. Plus, they’ve started a new tradition! top Bloom in the New Year EACH month of the 2007 Birds & Blooms Calendar showcases nature’s colorful palette with dozens of winged wonders and brilliant flowers shown up close in vivid, full-color photography. Buy it today from Country Store. top This email was sent to: $$email$$ HAVE A FRIEND who enjoys bird-watching, bird feeding or backyard gardening? Feel free to forward this newsletter! If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please use this link to sign up for yourself. If you do not want to receive further editions of this newsletter, please use this link to unsubscribe. If you would like to change or edit your email preferences, please visit your Personal Preferences page. To learn more about Reiman Media Group’s use of personal information, please read our Privacy Policy. Copyright 2006 Reiman Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5400 S. 60th St., P.O. Box 991, Greendale WI 53129-0991 1-800/344-6913
© Copyright 2006 Reiman Media Group, Inc.